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A grandfather who escaped a devastating blaze at his Flintshire home says he owes his life to a smoke alarm.

A fire broke out at Chris Harris’s home in Green Lane Estate, Sealand, just before midnight when a tumble dryer went up in flames.

The 58-year-old The grandfather-of-one was asleep upstairs when the blaze broke out in his kitchen after he switched his tumble dryer on before going to bed.

Today, Mr Harris has told how three smoke alarms and the quick response of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service “saved his bacon”.

He said: “I turned my tumble drier on before going to bed as I’d just come back from a camping trip so was trying to catch up with my washing and it just caught fire.

Chris Harris' kitchen after the fire (Image: Stacey Oliver)

“I was woken up by the smoke alarm and I was just in a complete panic – I suspected what it was and when I went downstairs I knew straight away it was the tumble dryer as the flames had completely taken hold of it.

“I went upstairs to get my keys and I tried to get the tumble dryer out the back door but I couldn’t get past the flames.

“I realised I needed help so I tried to ring the fire service on my land lines but they weren’t working and I was panicking so I got out the front door.”

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Three fire engines from attended the blaze, which caused 100% fire damage to the kitchen.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the cause of the fire is thought to be a fault in the tumble dryer.

Jane Honey from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This incident clearly highlights the importance of smoke alarms and the dangers of running electrical items such as tumble dryers, washing machines and dishwashers at night.”

She is advising people not overload their dryers, to clean filters regularly and not set programmes for a long period.